Emergency Medicine Research Group Edinburgh

& Resuscitation Research Group

Newsletter January - March 2015

Special
Edition!

Powered By Curiosity

MEET HILDA...
Hilda is 91 years young and has heart failure. In February 2015, Hilda recently participated in the RELAX 2 study,
a drug trial researching Serelaxin. Hilda kindly shares her experience with us:
I have never taken part in a research study before
and do not know anyone else who has. I agreed to take

Polly, Hilda & Rachel

part in the RELAX 2 study for heart failure because I saw it

as a good thing. It might not help me but it might help
people in the future. I think my age might have contributed
to my participation.
I felt the attention given to me at the Royal Inrmary of
Edinburgh was marvellous and I was delighted to give
something back. The EMERGE research team did an
exemplary job at explaining everything to me and allowing
me time to consider my participation before I agreed. I felt
no pressure to take part - I wanted to help.
I had complete trust in the research team and had no
concerns at any point. I was treated with the utmost
respect, even my family and friends commented. I took to
each and every one of them and particularly enjoyed the
extra attention I received because I was in the study.
Participating in RELAX 2 gave me a greater
understanding of research and I was surprised to discover
that so many people are needed to participate in research
studies in order to answer questions about the future of
medicine and in order to improve care for patients. Overall

I think patients should denitely be approached to

participate in research and I personally believe it is a great
opportunity for people.
My experience with the study and the research team
was marvellous and I would not hesitate to recommend
others to participate in research. For me my favourite part
was all the attention I got. I am so glad they felt my story
should be told.

And from the research team - a very big Thank You to Hilda, your support
is highly motivating for us.

Alison
Worth,
Patient
&
Public
Participation (PPI) Advisor getting
involved in the Twitter campaign
#WhyWeDoResearch at the NHS Lothian
Evidence-based
R&D Conference on 6th March 2015.

To make the day to day

lives of patients & families
better

Alison has been a great resource

and support to EMERGE and the ED,
ensuring we have the voice and the
participation of the public in our
research activities.

[1]

practice is achieved
through research
activity in your
clinical area!!

The NHS Lothian R&D Conference was held on 6th March. EMERGE
& RRG hosted a stand and our very own Dr Dip Datta was one of
the speakers. The conference highlighted all the world-leading

#WHYWEDORESEARCH

research currently ongoing in Lothian. Professor Dave Newby

(Director R&D) gave EMERGE a mention in his keynote speech
acknowledging their increasing professional output and
contribution to research in Lothian. The day was an enjoyable
opportunity to see some old faces and meet new colleagues.

4AT...The

4AT study will be researching a new

tool to assess delirium in elderly patients. Medicine of

the elderly in the context of the emergency department is
both essential & exciting work. We will soon be looking
for research nurses to take on this role for a 12mth
fixed term contract. If interested please contact EMERGE.

Because were curious

people with the research ideas and

Why Research???

Professor Alison McCallum, questions that are key. These people

Caldicott Guardian for NHS Lothian are all of us - all and any of us can
recently stated if we dont offer inuence improvements to patient
patients the opportunity to participate care by identifying problems and
in research studies, we are not s e e k i n g s o l u t i o n s . H a v i n g a n
experienced team to bring these
offering them best care.
Identifying problems, asking ideas to life is vital; and this is where
questions and seeking answers is EMERGE and the RRG can assist.
part of human nature. We all do it,
everyday without a thought. That is

To find the truth

behind
the anecdotes

If you have a question, an idea or

an innovation that could improve

essentially what research is, in its patient care either directly or
most simple state. Research doesnt
indirectly please let us know. We
have to be instigated by someone want to hear from YOU! Miranda
with a Phd or an academic - it is the

Participating
in research is an
opportunity for
patients

BREAKING
NEWS...
BREAKING NEWS...
EMERGE is now
on Twitter!!

Research Activity in the Acute Medical Unit

Dr Ann Lockman and Dr James Dear will be leading a research program in
the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). The overall aim being to improve the quality of
research and audit in AMU, and to raise the local and naDonal prole of acute
medicine research.
Two new research nurses will take up their posts in AMU April/May this year.
The role will be to recruit paDents and co-ordinate studies, working under the
umbrella and full support of EMERGE.
AMU has the potenDal to become a centre of excellence for clinical research
and we very much look forward to working together in the very near future.





Julia
[2]

Because we dont know

what we dont know

Matt, Judy & Rachel taking part

in the #WhyWeDoResearch
twitter campaign at the NHS
Lothian Conference 2015, and
introducing our tagline EMERGE:
Powered By Curiosity.
Please join us by tweeting a
sele stating why you think
research is important to
@emerge_research or
emerge@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

TEAM STUFF!
Farewell and Welcome!
We recently said a sad
farewell to Jen Simpson &
Amy Dunn, and wished them
all the very best of luck in
their new jobs. Thank you
both for all your hard work,
EMERGE is better because of
your contribution. At the
s a m e t i m e w e wa r m l y
welcome Mia Paderanga
from the ED who has joined
us as a Research Nurse.
We are also looking forward
to 3 new Research Nurses
joining our growing team in
April-May 2015. Working
with EMERGE & the RRG is a
great opportunity to expand
your knowledge, experience,
and scope of practice.

NEW Homegrown study - Rapid-CTCA Trial

EMERGE is delighted to announce the start of a
new trial RAPID-CTCA. This trial aims to look at
the early use of CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)
in paDents with potenDal ischaemic heart
disease. Although CTCAs are not a new
intervenDon, the use of them in this paDent
group as an early intervenDon diagnosDc tool is
novel. The trial aims to recruit 2,500 paDents
across 30 UK sites in a 30 month period - so a big
challenge for the EMERGE team to co-ordinate!
Prof Alasdair Gray is the Lead InvesDgator for the UK. If you would like to know
more please chat to any member of the EMERGE team who will be delighted to
help. Rachel
Student Nursing Times Award
Nomination!

education that offers consistent

messages in all settings, and ensures

Our colleagues Polly Black and Adam

Lloyd, are both graduates from the

students are prepared to meet the needs

of both future employers and the patients
they will care for. The awards will be held
on May 7th in London and we will be

Masters in Clinical Research programme

run by the University of Edinburgh. This
University course has been short-listed
for the Student Nursing Times Award for
P a r t n e r s h i p o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 1 5
(www.studentawards.nursingtimes.net)
The prize celebrates organisations that
have achieved collaborative partnerships
in which students learning needs are met
through academic and practical

Research in a Humanitarian
Crisis
Miranda recently worked with
the University of Oxford as Field
Trial Coordinator (team 2) on the
RAPIDE-BCV Ebola Drug Trial,
Liberia, West Africa. Jan 2015.
For further information about
her experience please see;
http://
www.edinburghemergencymedi
cine.com/blog/2015/2/24/
research-in-a-humanitariancrisis

keeping our ngers crossed for them all.

It is a quality course and both Adam and
Polly would highly recommend it to all
nursing students and qualied nurses
interested in pursuing a career in
research.

EMERGE is pleased to announce that the RIE

ED will be participating in another exciting ED
research project this spring. ENCEPH UK
started on 17th March and is a UK multicentre
cohort study recruiting patients presenting
acutely with a suspected diagnosis of
encephalitis with the aim of understanding and
improving the outcome of encephalitis
(inammation of the brain substance). We would
be grateful if you could page the EMERGE
research nurse during weekday daytime hours or
place a sticker in the ENCEPH book, which will
be held in HD, if you are involved in the care of
any patient in whom you have a clinical
suspicion of encephalitis or to whom you
prescribe acyclovir for possible CNS infection.
Patients or their relatives can consent, there is
some extra blood sampling involved and some
collection of routinely collected blood and CSF.
The EMERGE research nurses will be involved in
most of the recruitment process including
consent and data collection so the impact to
you will be minimal, however your support with
identication of possible patients and the
occasional blood test would be appreciated. Dr
Matt Reed is the PI for the study and Julia
Grahamslaw is leading from the EMERGE
research nurse team side. As always come and
nd us if you have any queries.
[3]

Offering research
is giving best
patient care

Winner!
The 100th emerge_research
twitter follower is;
Nick Trestrail,
Paramedic, Cornwall
Congratulations Nick, you
are the proud new owner of
an EMERGE pen - well done
and thanks for your support.
You are ofcially Curious.
Will YOU be follower 200?
EMERGE pen and Post-It note
pad to the 200th twitter
follower... got to be in it to
win it...

RESUSCITATION
RESEARCH GROUP

Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium 2015 27th March Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
To summarise #SCAS15 here are some of the
Scot Govt Health, Strategy launch tweeted New plan
comments shared via social media throughout the day;
could save 1,000 out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest lives by
2020. #SCAS15 ow.ly/KTgLV
Gregors Story Its not just a theory Gregor survived
an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) showing how the
Resus Edinburgh tweeted #SCAS15 - currently get
Chain of Survival can and does work - Link vimeo.com/ 20% of all OHCA and 52% of VF/VT home in Edinburgh!
123213458
There is no secret ingredient & anyone can do it!
Best tweet of the day was by Nick May, A selfEMERGE tweeted Dr Benger, Professor of Emergency
proclaimed Young Paramedic, SECAMB I wouldnt stay in Care, UoWE saying Good quality research drives better
a hotel that doesnt have a re extinguisher... so why would outcomes.
I stay in one that doesnt have an AED? #SCAS15
Mark Forrest, Consultant Anaesthetics, MD Cheshire
Matt Shepherd, Intensive Care Flight tweeted Fire & Rescue Service tweeted #SCAS15 Capt. Jonathan
Paramedic & Speaker, Melbourne Australia #SCAS15 Larsen (Seattle Fire Medic One): starting position/mentality
Thank you so much for inviting me to attend RRG is that with shockable rhythm EVERYONE survives!
Symposium. An extremely well organised and educational #mindset.
event #nicestpeoplearound
#SCAS15 Twitter Stats:
John Collins, Advanced Paramedic, Liverpool
604 participants
tweeted We dont count survival in some OHCA
4,988 tweets
presentations because we dont get there
3,156,069 impressions Wow!!!
in time. Is this fair reporting? and
When is Asystole not Asystole?
From the movie Amazing Grace and as quoted by Dr
When you can see Ventricular
Too Young
Gareth Clegg, & tweeted by many; Which is why were
Fibrillation using focused
for
too young to realise certain things are impossible. Which is
ultrasound. #SCAS15
why we will do them anyway. William Pitt the Younger
Impossible
Please follow RRG on Twitter @RRG_Edinburgh
[4]

To improve our care

Dr Al Dewar, RRG
Since August 2014,
Ive been working
with RRG as a
clinical teaching
fellow in Emergency
Medicine. Im
working towards a
post-graduate degree, and have a
brilliant opportunity to combine
teaching, research and clinical work
into one job.
My area of research interest is the
NTS skills of paramedics attending
OHCA. Video footage captured by
3RU paramedics who attend out-ofhospital cardiac arrests (OHCA)
across Edinburgh and Midlothian
allows RRG to analyse not only the
technical tasks performed (intubating,
DC cardioversion, IV access etc.) but
also to look at the non-technical
skills (NTS) displayed by the various
team members.

So we can get a mug!

To make sure we dont
harm patients

Because we need to learn ;)

The development of frameworks for

assessing NTS skills which include
situation awareness, decision
making, team working and task
management began in the airline
industry. Over the last ten years or
so, healthcare has started to adopt
the process of analysing and training
in NTS, as their importance in the
process of improving patient care has
become apparent.
Using the video footage, we hope to
identify areas of great teamwork and
leadership, as well as areas which
may be proving more challenging!
With this data, the next task is to
design and test training interventions
which will help paramedics to work
more effectively together in managing
OHCA, and evaluating whether this
better team performance leads to
more lives saved. Al

#WhyWeDoRes
earch

Better outcomes for our

patients

To build a better future...

for healthcare professionals
AND Patients

TEAM

RRG

ED

CONTACT

Prof Alasdair Gray

Dr Matt Reed
Dr Jen Browning
Dr Stephen Lynch
Dr Deepankar Datta
Miranda Odam RNM
Judy Coyle TL
Rachel OBrien LRN
Julia Grahamslaw SRN
Polly Black SRN
Kirsty Simpson RN
Mia Paderanga RN
Ola Grusczcynska RA

Dr Gareth Clegg
Dr Richard Lyon
Paul Gowens
Dr Sarah Richardson
Steven Short RO
Adam Lloyd PhD Student
Dr Al Dewar
Dr Scott Clark
Dr Scott James
Dr Dave Lowe
Dr Frank Prior
Donald McPhail(3RU team)
and many,many more...

Thank you to all

the ED staff for
their ongoing
support.

Office 0131 242 3867

emerge@nhslothian.scot.nhs
.uk
www.emergeresearch.org

Saying of the
quarter;

None of us is as
smart as all of us.
~Ken Blanchard
[5]

@emerge_research
EMERGE Office
Nursing Directorate
Corridor
Level 1, near ward 109
51 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh EH16 4SA

#WhyWeDoResearch